The Opelousas courier., 1887-12-31

found a chink somewhere in the ofics
window, was blowing directly upon tht
back of Father Deane's head, sending
keen darts through it in every direction
.Nonsense!n growled the old gentle
man iercely; 1:you are both too young
Neither of you know your " mind:
yeti
eve are willing to wait if that BIT
your WISH. replied Charley. 81 onl..
wanted your consent that it might take
place some time"
s.Tll not consent to anything. Never
did believe in long engagements. Wher
you are both older than you are now IL
consider the matter, not before. Good
morning, SIR"
Poor Charley! he had always supposed
that Mr.. Deane was rather partial te
him. Poor Charley i! who went out il
a state Of sore p~erplexity, wondering
what in the world he could have done &c
SO offend Mr. Deane. Poor Charley!
who suddenly walked up to the fact thai
it was a horrid morning in particular
and a most dismal world in general.
We may scott abolt it as much as We
please, but variable weather is a blessed
thing sometimes, especially when ii
changes for the better.
WEN#sE G#E 1911 49,
Father Deane always lunched at
restaurant, dining at home after office
hours. Now, it SO happened that the
wind took a sudden turn. and by the time
he went out for his lunch there was tho
gentlest Of breezes from the south with
good hot sun, which, shining down upon
his head and back, did wonders for the
neuralgia and rheumatism. Then, at
the restaurant whom should he meet but
an old friend from New York, who said:
tsWhy, Deane, / don't believe you look
a day older than you did ten years ago."
While a man may despise ordinary
compliments, / am inclined tothink
he would find such a greeting preferable
to 9.Why, how old and gray you've
grown!'
Meeting thus pleasantly, the friends
prolonged the lunch as long as possible
and walked back as far as the office door
together.
As DOR as ever he had parted from
his friend and stepped inside the
office, Father Deane thought of Charley.
81 declared ne said to himself. -'sTm
afraid I was a little hasty this morning.
Let me see; no, it can't be; yes, that's
so, as true as I'm alive Charley Traver
must be twenty-three or four; has o
good business too. As for little Wianie
---well, well, well. ! suppose It's got
to come some time. Charley said he'd
wait awhile. He bore it better, too,
than / should if I'd been in his shoes.
But dare say he's horribly vexed at
me; wouldn't blame bin a bit, either, il
he were. must have Winnie apologize
for me, she'll make it all right. I can
keep my word too. Lucky for me that /
put that in; | hate to goGback on my
word. OF course they will 10th be older
than they were this morning. I must
have been q good deal out 2f sorts to
have acted that way, / ALWAYS did like
Charley
Meanwhile mother Deane .ad exerted
herself to cure the cooks toothache,
and, having succeeded after q TIME, her
in her gratitude, did her very
best in the matter Of a dinner of which
may be sassa that after Father Deane
had done apple justice TO it, he was en-
tirely his Jolly, good natured self again.
And vixen anxious Winnie perched her
self On his knee to whisper, ibid
Charley come to the Office this morning2'
he kissed her blushing cheeks and said
d little confusedly, Eyes, dear; but I
was somewhat out of sorts and shouldn't
wonder if / answered the poor fellow
shortly. When he calls youscan
it to him and tell him I said it
all right If he'd wait a couple spf
years before taking you away. ! can't
lose lyou just yet, this with another
Kiss, ssbut / don't know of any one I'd
rather have for ason-in-law than Charley
Traver.
Is very downcast, disconsolate- looking
person was the Charley who came an
hour later. But, when Winnie had ex-
and delivered her fathers mes
he laughed with q Sudden elevation
If spirits. HIt's all right now" he de-
ssbut 4 did feel most awfully cut
up 6 it. However, like a wise
young man, he refrained from entering
into further particulars Of the interview
ID her fathers Office. While within,
loving hearts, the two sat planning
the beautiful future they were to spend
together, outside, among tho shorn
branches Of The one evergreen BY the
parlor window, the wind, no longer .
nischievous east wind, but the sweetest
southern brcezes-was softly whis-
pering, But neither Of the tWo listened
10 Il . they did not know how It had
mixed itself up with the days doings,
nor hew closely the happy outcome Of it
I'll was interviewer with the tickle ca
Drice of an idle. shiTtinr wind-TChi-